THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA BRAVERY, FAITH AND CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE

1. THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA BRAVERY, FAITH AND CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE SINHA, SANAT SESSION : MAY 2009 CANDIDATE NO: 002150-007

2. Ernest Hemingway was the son of a doctor and a music teacher. • Literary Influence: Hemingway built up the mythic breed of masculinity for which he wished to be known. His work and his life revolved around big-game hunting, fishing, boxing, and bullfighting, endeavors that he tried to master as seriously as he did writing. In the 1930s, Hemingway lived in Key West, Florida, and later in Cuba, and his years of experience fishing the Gulf Stream and the Caribbean provided an essential background for the vivid descriptions of the fisherman’s craft in The Old Man and the Sea. One of his works, Across the River and Into the Trees, published in 1950, which he said to be one of his best novels so far was a disaster. Critics claimed it to be the worst novel ever written by him. So by 1952 , due to his desperate desire to regain his respect as a literary figure, Hemingway wrote The Old Man and the Sea. SINHA, SANAT SESSION : MAY 2009 CANDIDATE NO: 002150-007

3. Biography contd… • Old Man and the Sea: The huge success of The Old Man and the Sea, published in 1952, was a much-needed vindication. The novella won the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and it likely clinched the Nobel Prize for Hemingway in 1954, as it was cited for particular recognition by the Nobel Academy. It was the last novel published in his lifetime. • Despite the soberly life-affirming tone of the novella, Hemingway was, at the end of his life, more and more prone to debilitating bouts of depression. He committed suicide in 1961 in Ketchum, Idaho. SINHA, SANAT SESSION : MAY 2009 CANDIDATE NO: 002150-007

4. BRAVERY • Santiago’s Bravery, Valor and Perseverance is unsurpassed. • Examples of bravery, • daring to go deep in the gulf to get a catch even after being unsuccessful for 84 days. • 3 days fight with the marlin • further illustrated when he fights the sharks. SINHA, SANAT SESSION : MAY 2009 CANDIDATE NO: 002150-007

5. Symbolism of bravery : Lions A lion heart is a symbol of bravery. Santiago often had dreams of a beach where lions are roaming. SINHA, SANAT SESSION : MAY 2009 CANDIDATE NO: 002150-007

6. FAITH Faith is another important theme in the book. Santiago not only teaches Manolin about fishing but also about the importance of keeping faith. He has faith in, the Yankees and most importantly Joe DiMaggio. Manolin Himself Faith is not the only thing that drives his perseverance. Santiago also draws upon his past victories for strength. After he hooked the Marlin he frequently recalled his battle with a native in what he called "the hand game. SINHA, SANAT SESSION : MAY 2009 CANDIDATE NO: 002150-007

7. CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE • Ernest Hemmingway’s parents were devoted Christians. Hence a Christian influence can be vividly noticed throughout the book. • Faith : basic principle of Christianity. • The room of his shack has a painting of the sacred heart of Jesus Christ. • Relationship between Manolin and Santiago. SINHA, SANAT SESSION : MAY 2009 CANDIDATE NO: 002150-007

8. Parallelism between the crucifixion of Christ and Santiago returning from his 3 days fight • Nail pierced hands of Christ  Santiago's “hands had deep creased scars.” • Christ’s suffering "he settled against the wood and took his suffering as it came.“ Christ carrying the cross to Cavalry  Santiago carries the mast home. SINHA, SANAT SESSION : MAY 2009 CANDIDATE NO: 002150-007

9. There is also a visual symbolism when Santiago finally reaches his cabin, "he slept face down on the newspapers with his arms out straight and the palms of his hands up.” in a similar position as seen in the picture. SINHA, SANAT SESSION : MAY 2009 CANDIDATE NO: 002150-007

10. Conclusion "There isn't any symbolism. The sea is the sea. The old man is an old man. The boy is a boy and the fish is a fish. The shark are all sharks no better and no worse. All the symbolism that people say is shit. What goes beyond is what you see beyond when you know.“ – Ernest Hemingway Although Hemingway strongly opposes against any sort of interpretation or symbolism in the book, we as readers can distinctly identify the three major themes Bravery, Faith and Christian Influence. Hemingway has inter-related these three themes in such a way that they do not conflict with each other but instead be a supporting factor. The Christian influence plays a major role in the book, however it seems to be more intuitively symbolic than intentional. I think Hemingway was only trying to discourage the type of over-reading that scholars often attempt (ex: any instance of the supernatural is “Magic Realism”) “What goes beyond is what you see beyond when you know.” (know what to analyze and what not to) SINHA, SANAT SESSION : MAY 2009 CANDIDATE NO: 002150-007

11. Bibliography • Ernest Hemingway (2004), The Old Man and the Sea, Arrow Books, London • http://images.google.co.in/images?hl=en&q=Old+man+and+the+sea&gbv=2 • http://images.google.co.in/images?hl=en&q=Old+man+and+the+sea&gbv=2 • http://images.google.co.in/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=jesus+christ%2Bcross&btnG=Search+Images SINHA, SANAT SESSION : MAY 2009 CANDIDATE NO: 002150-007

12. Thank you